Aerial cable transportation means



May 17, 1927.

.|.. L.'CUSTER AERIAL CABLE TRANSPORTATION MEANS F iled Dec. 20, 1924 2Sheets-Sheet 1 I 1, 2 May 17,1927. L CUSTER 6 8,827

AERIAL CABLE TRANSPORTATION MEANS Filed Dec. 20, l924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VIN VENTOR/ {M M 45 A TTORNE y 'Patented May 17, 1927.

tin-[TED STA res PATENT orifice.

LEVIT'I LUZERN GUSTER, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

AERIAL CABLE TRANSPORTATION MEANS.

It is one of the objects ofmy invention to provide for overheadtransportation, a carriage which through pulleyshas a firm traction withsuspended cables over which it is propelled by'a self contained motor.

These pulleys are adequate in number to the street below, it ispractically noiseless in.

operation, and occup es but small space above the street. V

My cable track may be economically installed, since surface obstaclessuch as hills and valleys may be surmounted with ease; and forconducting sightseers over and around the 'niountains and lakes in parkssuch as the Yellowstone. it is admirably adapted. The invention is alsowellsuited for long non-stop trips, since there are no crossings as onsurface railways, thusmaking it possible to'm ainta'in a high, uniformspeed between far distant points. p

i In amusement parks my aerial transportation means are particularlyadapted to afford a thrill to patrons by carrying them through the airaround andover lakes, trees and buildings within the grounds. Whenemployed for this use, a bowl=shaped or like body may be suspended. by auniversal connection from the carriage to make possible a slightswinging movement of the body to impart an additional thrill to thepersons who ride within it. f In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 isaplan view of my-aerial carriage, showing' the arrangement of thetraction pulleys. Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the carriage,showing the suspended passenger carryin body. Figure 3 is a sideelevational view of the same. Figure-4 is'a "sectional view taken on theline 4-4 of "Figure 8, through one of the traction pulleys. Figure 'isan'en'd view of the carriage frame, showing the traction pulleys, motor,and

cable supports, with the cables in" section.

Figure'6 is a side elevational' view of one intermediate gear be rotatedat the same rate Application filed December 26, 1924. Serial No.757,285.

of the cable supports. Figure 7 is a cross sect onal View taken throughthe same on the line 7'T of Figure 6. And Figure 8 1s a perspective viewof the current collecting means.

' Referring to the accompanying *drawings for a detailed descriptionof'my. invention,

the numerals 1 and 2' designate two longitudinal sid e members of anaerial carriage frame. Secured to the inner surface ofthe members, 1 and2,: near the ends thereof, are bearings 3., Passing through each pair ofoppositely disposed bearings 3', 3, and holes in the side members whichcarry them, 1s a pulley shaft (See. Figures 1 and Connected to themiddle portions of the side members 1 and 2 are the upper ends of two Ushaped cradle members'f), 5 which support a motor 6, preferably of theelectric type and arranged at right angles to the side members. Themotor 6 is formed with feet 7 which are connected by bolts 8 to theU-shaped members 5, 5 for the purpose of firmly securing the'motorbetween the side membersland 2, the side member 2 being offset at itsmiddle portion 9 to clear one end ofthe motor. (See Figure l.)

"Themotor 6 has a drive shaft 10 which projectsthrough a hole in theside member l,to receive on its outer end a pinion 11.

On one side the pinion llmeshes with. an'

12 mounted on a spmdle intermediate gear 13 secured to theside member 1,and on'its otherside'with a similar intermediate gear 14 which ismounted on aspindle 15 secured to the side member l. (See Figure 1.)Mounted directly outside the side member '1 on each pulley shaft 4, isagear'16. The

gear 16 on 'one pulley shaft 4 meshes with the intermediate gear 12, andthe gear '16 on the other pulley shaft 4 mesheswith the I 14, wherebyboth pulley shafts 4, 4 may I V of speed by the motor 6. (See Figures 1and 5.) WVhile I have shown the above gear arrangement between the motorshaft 10 and the pulley shafts '4, ,4, any other suitablepower'transmis'sion means for driving the latter from'the motor 6 maybeprovided if desired. I

Each pulley shaft 4 projects a sufficient distance beyond the sidemember-s1 and 2, to receive on each end two traction pulleys 17, 17 (SeeFiguresl and 5.) .While I have shown four pulleys 17 fixedly securedeach shaft 4, any greateror less-number.

of them may be employed as conditions warrant. Each pulley 17 ispreferably lined around its peripheral groove with a strip of rubber 18or other suitable material which possesses both insulating andnon-slipping.

properties when the pulley travels over electric cable. In the presentinstance each pulley runs over an electric cable 19, there being tour ofsaid cables. two on one side and two on the other side of the path. ofthe carriage frame, and supported as follows to permit a tree movementof the latter between them.

Referring to Figure 5, the numeral 20 designates a C-shaped supportingmember which, in a horizontal position, is secured to a cable 21 orother suitable support stretched between poles, trees or other objects(not shown), or in any other desired manner. hen the C-shaped member issupported by the cable 21, cable clamps such as straps 22 and anchorbolts 23 are prefer" ably employed to firmly secure said member to thecable.

On each tree horizontal end of the C- shaped member 20 two individualcable supports 24, 24 are mounted. Referring to Figures and 6, eachcable support 24 preterably comprises'a malleable iron casting formed toprovide a vertical web portion 25, a flanged base 26 and an elongatedchannel portion 27 that is preferably arched for some uses, although itmay be made straight if desired. The flanged base 26 of each support istoTmed at each corner with a hole which is adapted to be brought above asimilar hole formed in the C-shaped member 20. Between the base 26 otthe support- 24 and the lower horizontal ,part of the C-shaped member20, is a strip 28 or" bakelite or other suitable insulating material,and containing holes that are adapted to be brought intoregistry withthose just re ferred to in said C-shaped member and the base 26 of saidsupport. Adapted to be passed through each set of holes in the sup portbase 26, the bakelite strip 28 and the C-shaped member, is a tube 29preferably constructed of bakelite. (See Figure 6.)

Surrounding the tube 29 directly above the cable support base 26, arewashers 30 which are preferably constructed of bakei lite, andimmediately above them are smaller washers 31 that are desirablyconstructed of steel. These washers 31 are engaged by the heads of bolts32 which pass clownwardly through the tubes 29 to receive on their lowerthreaded ends nuts 33. Disposed between the latter and the C-shapedmember 20 are washers 34 desirably constructed of steel, and largerwashers 35 preferably made of balzelite. By means otthe bolts 32 andnuts 33, the cable supports 24 are firmly secured upon the lowerhorizontal portions of the. C-shaped member 20. This member, which ispreferably constructed of structural steel, is properly insulated fromthe cable supports 24, which are within an electric circuit, by thebakelite strip 28, tubes 29 and washers 30 and just described. (SeeFigures 1 and 6.)

For the purpose of conducting electric current from the cables 19 to theelectric motor 6, the following means are preferably employed. Thesecables, which are preterably charged with an alternating current from asource not shown, are on one side of the motor 6 each engaged by atraveling brush 36. (See Figure 1.) Each brush 36 is secured at itsinner end to, and insulated from, a horizontal member 37 that is attached to the upper end of a vertical support 38 which is connected atits lower end to the side member 1. Each brush 36 consists of a strip ofspring metal whose free end is curved to provide a firm spring contactwith the electrically charged cable 19 over which it is adapted to bedrawn. Leading from each of the brushes 36, 36 to the electric motor 6,for the purpose of conducting electric current thereto, is a flexibleelectrical conductor 39. A similar electrical conductor 39 runs from theelectric motor 6 to a brush 40, similar to each one of the Although anysuitable type of passenger,

mail or express carrying body may be suspended from the carriagetramejust described, I have shown a bowl-shaped body 43 connected to itby the universal joint means soon to be described. Such a body may beused in amusement parks, to give to the passengers the thrill which itsswinging movement will impart as it is carried through the air.

Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 5, there is bolted or otherwise suitablysecured to the lower face of each U-shaped cradle member 5, aright-angled supporting piece 44. The vertical ends of these supportingpieces 44, 44 face each other, and are provided with oppositely disposedholes to receive a swivel stud 45 upon which a swivel block 46 ismounted. Pivotally attached to the swivel block 46 by means of capscrews 47 47 is a 'U-shaped member 48 to the bottom of which supportingrods 49 for the bowlshaped body 43 are connected. The pivotal meansjustdescribed provide'a universal joint connection between the carriageframe and the b0wl-shapedbody to allow the latter a trans- .verse andlongitudinal movement to impart In front of a seat 50 within the body43,

a variable speed switch 51 and a reversing switch 52 may he securedtoone side of said body. An electriccable 53 runs from these switches tothe motor 6 to control the latter, and through it, the lozwvard andbackward movement of the car. (See Figures 3 and 5.) a

By employing a multiplicity of traction pulleys 17,in this instanceeight, I obtain effective traction with the cables 19 when the motor 6is started. lining the peripheral groove of each pulley with a frictionmaterial such as rubber, I increase the effective traction contactbetween the pulley and the cable. The rubber lining not only acts as anon-slipping agent, but it also serves'to insulate the pul- Furthermore,by

leys from the cables when the later are electrically charged; My cablecarriage is economical, compact and efficient for the various uses towhich it may be put. I y

Having described my invention, I claim:

A device of the type described, comprising aerial supports, cablessecured to said supports, and being electrically charged, a groupofspaced pulleys on said cables, a lining of friction and insulatingmaterial upon the grooved periphery of each pulley, a carriage to whichsaid pulleys are secured, an electric motor within the carriage betweenthe I pulleys, and electric brushes on said carriage in circuit with themotor, to collect current from said cables.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day ofDecember, 1924.

L, LUZERN (DUSTER.

